2 Investigators: Gang Shootings Spill Onto Chicago Expressways
(CBS) -- It's becoming a familiar sight on area expressways: police looking for evidence after a shooting.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims try to pick up the pieces.
CBS 2's Pam Zekman reports.
So far this year, there have been 20 shootings on area expressways and another six on Lake Shore Drive. Five of them have been fatal.
Expressway shootings have steadily increased since 2013, when there were 15; there were 19 in 2014 and 34 in 2015.
Illinois State Police Capt. David Byrd says most of the shootings are gang related and victims are targeted.
"People are just trying to flee a bad situation, and it just happens the expressway might be the closest escape route and they're taking it," he says.
By far, the most shootings have occurred on the Dan Ryan, ten so far this year and 14 last year.
"Something as simple as driving back and forth to visit family and friends and you could get shot, that's very scary," motorist Angel Pearson says.
Byrd doesn't think people should be afraid of driving on interstates.
"What people should be is alert and vigilant about their surroundings," he says.
Urban-issues expert Daniel Spiess of the University of Chicago says competition for the illegal heroin trade might be fueling the violence.
"I think a lot these are turf wars, and they start out on surface streets on the city streets and are kind of rolling over onto the freeways," he says.
The state police have added nightly patrols and plan an enforcement surge beginning in June.
During a recent saturation patrol the state police made 236 arrests on area expressways and seized 12 guns.
So far this year, no arrests have been made for expressway shootings but several leads are being pursued.
Police say you if you see one drive away from the area and report it and any description of the car or license plate number you may have seen by calling *999.
